From the co-founder and director of the original legendary New Music Seminar comes a conference for the Next Music Business. Artists have never had so much power to control their own careers and build their success. The New Music Seminar’s mission is to create a music business in which talent can rise to its highest potential based solely on its merit, without regard to its financial resources or connections. To help artists and their representatives achieve success. To create a new economic model that better rewards both artists, their investors and those in artist services. This affordable event gives artists and their representatives the knowledge, tools and connections to step into the tomorrow’s music business today.

One of the main things we encourage our clients to start is their own blogs and to blog regularly. The more regularly you create content for your site the better the odds are of getting visitors, because you create more keywords that people can find you with and search engines reward sites with fresh content – more on blogging in a moment.

Websites are no longer billboards; they now function much more like news channels. Of course your blog can consist of band related activity but it is also useful to throw in a few posts about the bands personality which includes more personal posts about maybe your hobbies, charities you support, etc.

Since the blogging is usually totally new to artists I’ve been on a hunt to nail down a thorough how-to on writing blogging posts and the main key points that should be in each post.

I came across Conversify’s article written by Karen Woodward and found myself nodding to every point she made! Passing along this great article on How To Write a Blog Post.

How do you write a good blog post? There is a skill in writing for the web – people tend to skim, so you want to present your facts and your writing in a skimmable-friendly fashion. I call this “Making a blog post bloggy.” Here are some tips to writing a bloggy blog post:

1. Keep it short (about 350-800 words). Anything more than that and your audience will flee in horror at the amount of reading they have to do. Or if they have to read it, they will skim it even faster and miss everything you’re saying.

2. Keep it simple. Write in simply-constructed sentences with very clear writing. No excess words. One way to do this is to keep language positive and action-oriented. Instead of writing, “Don’t hesitate to email us,” write, “Email us.”

3. Break it up. People tend to skim in chunks, so write in small paragraphs that are divided by subheads. Long paragraphs scare off readers. Short paragraphs and subheads makes the blog post easier to skim and less daunting (especially if it’s more than 1000 words).

4. Add pictures. There is no set rule here, but consider adding a picture for every three to five paragraphs. People need a place to rest their eyes, otherwise they get bogged down in words and bored of reading. You may also find that a picture can better describe what you’re writing anyway, and then you can lose a ton of text!

(Never start a blog post with a picture. There should always be enough lines of text –and keywords!– above the picture to make search engines happy.)

5. Include links. Links serve many purposes:

They break up a long paragraph by providing a resting place for the eye.

They draw the eye to a particular paragraph, since the link will stand out.

Links share the internet love. If you link to another site, they may link back to you. That’s sharing the love, and making Google notice. (Read: Search Engine Friendly.)

Two things to remember about links:

When using links “hide” them under relevant text, to avoid clutter. For example, write “Check out our events calendar for more information,” not “Check out our events calendar for more information: www.mywebsite.com/events.”).

Don’t be “link happy” (including links whenever, wherever) because that looks sloppy. Only use them when appropriate, i.e. to guide the user to an action, for more information, or for attribution.

6. Start with a hook and end with a call to action. You want to grab the reader immediately, supply information, and finish with a next step (even if that step is just asking the reader to think about something).

7. When writing about an event, go in this order: When. Where. How. Always write out the date (“June 17,” not “6/17/11”), and include the day of the week if the event is coming up within a week. For example, “The band is playing on Friday, June 17 at The House of Blues. Buy tickets at Ticketmaster.” (The link to Ticketmaster is under the word “Ticketmaster.”)

8. People love lists and bullet points. They’re easy for people to skim and grab the take-aways of a blog post.

9. If you have a word, phrase, event name, etc that you want to highlight, then put it in bold, or a different color to set it apart from the other text. Do this sparingly, or it will lose its impact.

10. Tag and categorize your posts (if possible). This makes your blog post search engine friendly, so other people can find it. There is no set rule here, but consider three to eight tags and one to two categories.

11. When you’re finished writing, look back over your post and think, “Is this what they want? Have I provided all the information? What else might they want to know?”

More than just another film soundtrack, Beat the World is the coming together of some of the world’s most prominent conscious Hip Hop artists as part of a vision to build new social paradigms through music and film.

When Somalian born new-school rapper and World Cup ambassador K’NAAN joined forces with one of Hip Hop’s most respected founding fathers, KRS-One, to record the film’s title track “Hip Hop Nation”, they were on a mission: to represent the positive voice and power of the world’s largest music-based cultural movement – Hip Hop. In addition to creating an original voice for Beat the World, they created an anthem for the evolution of the global Hip Hop movement.

“Hip Hop Nation” both drives the action of the film and emphasizes a shared underlying theme: we are all equal and united under one global movement, using music, dance and creativity to breakdown borders and stereotypes that may otherwise divide us.

Hip Hop Nation – KRS-One feat. K’NAAN and Lina Watch Here:

Other notable collaborations on the soundtrack include the heroic “Infinite Love,” featuring top British rapper Sway together with the renowned lyrical wordsmith Talib Kweli, and the multi-lingual world-beat dance track “Must Be the Music” performed by Les Nubians (France), Lina (US) and MV Bill (Brazil).

Digital review copies are available at your request as well as producer Frank Fitzpatrick is open to interviews and Q&A’s about bringing together such notable group of artists to create this project.

Hip-hop culture is in Brooklyn native Milly Warbucks’ blood. The 29-year-old emcee began his career at the age of nine when he was featured on a mixtape created by his older family members. Over the years Milly sharpened his skills by engaging in local cyphers and freestyle competitions throughout the East New York—introducing his skills and unique name to the borough.

The moniker, Milly Warbucks is actually a derivative of a nickname given to him by his grandparents. “When I was younger I always talked about millions, so that name stuck.” He later added Warbucks (not to be confused with “Daddy Warbucks”) to his stage name to symbolize what he stands for. “The War part is because I’m always prepared and bucks is for the financial level I will achieve through music,” says Milly.

Unfortunately, with one foot in the industry—rapping and working as a promoter—and one foot in the street Milly eventually got caught up and was sentenced to four years in jail. Though he was incarcerated it did not stop his love of music or his hunger for success. Once he was released he attacked the NYC hip-hop scene with equal skill and aggression.

The diverse emcee/songwriter’s first post incarceration project was the critically acclaimed This is How it Shoulda Been Done mixtape. The release featured Milly interpreting various popular songs and putting his own spin on them. The project was put together so well that many fans assumed the songs were official remixes, which is a testament to Milly’s talent.

In 2009 Milly made a splash nationally with the single “Chea Chea” featuring Princess of Crime Mobb. The single got spins on various stations and several hits on influential blogs and websites. Later that year he also recorded a song and video for “Everything I Need” with R&B singer Qui—who is also the daughter of NFL Hall of Fame wide receiver Jerry Rice.

Milly is currently working on what he says is the first project that fully represents him. The currently untitled project will feature production from Joshua Mirk (Jay-Z, Ciara, Anthony Hamilton). Milly hopes to give listeners all facets of his life as an artist and a person with the upcoming release.

With wisdom and experience under his belt and undeniable talent, there is no stopping Milly Warbucks from realizing his dream and letting the world hear the next big thing out of Brooklyn.

Norwegian rapper from Oslo whose on a journey of seducing the world with a poetic lyrical approach to music that you have not seen since the progressive rock era in the 70´s.

Ever since he started rapping back in ’05, MesAyah has focused on the listeners and provided them with something new. He wants to evoke feelings and thoughts both on a personal and collective level, and let the audience get more out of the lyrics when giving them another listen. MesAyah has an artistic approach, allowing the listener to interpret his music in their own way rather than adopting his beliefs.

TINA is a singer, songwriter, guitarist, tabla player, writer, dancer, and actor that has been touring worldwide since the age of five. Recently featured on Style Network’s hit show “Jerseylicious”, she is about to make her mainstream breakthrough with her new single “So Good” featuring Fat Joe. The video for “So Good” received 30,000 views in it’s first week, which is extremely rare for an Indie Artist. “So Good” is an instantaneous, catchy pop hit that is guaranteed to make listeners feel “So Good”!

TINA – Born in Mumbai, raised in New Jersey – music has always been an integral part of pop sensation TINA’s life. Singing and performing since 5 years old, she had an early start with a very musical family who toured as a professional group on weekends.

While her family may have been a traveling, touring act to a degree, the importance of academics and family values was instilled by her parents. School was always an integral part of TINA’s youth – yet after graduation, the young scholar set aside an honors biology degree and being accepted into an accelerated medical program to follow her passion for music.

Since then, the rising star has been on a musical journey experimenting in a few different genres – complete with having worked with everyone from Ringo to Fat Joe. No stranger to the spotlight, TINA has been on camera for everything from musical touring to media interviews, to acting in dramatic soap operas to Indian comedies to VJ-ing a show for three years that was broadcasted in 150 million households around the world. TINA is currently very excited about her rebranding with a sexy new image and hot edgy urban pop sound.

Like many breaking artists who are likened to their successors, TINA often gets compared to Nicole Scherzinger of the Pussycat Dolls, as well as mega talents Prince and Shakira because of her multi talent ability to sing, dance and play multiple instruments. She plays several instruments with guitar and tabla (an Indian drum) being her main focus.

TINA has surrounded herself with an impeccable team of supertalents, both on the creative and business end. For her single, “So Good”, superstar Fat Joe is a featured guest. The song itself is a timpani driven high energy pop track with an infectious synth driven chorus, seductive both literally and figuratively, with Fat Joe chiming in to add his praise for TINA’s playfulness. The track is the masterpiece of the stellar musical pair of Charlie Hype and Jim Beanz of Timbaland Productions (Katy Perry, Jamie Foxx, Justin Timberlake). Written by Jim Beanz, the innovative “So Good” track was produced by Charlie Hype, which proves to be a perfect match for the sensual, exotic beauty. This collaboration of talent finesses the art of musical seduction.

Acclaimed director Paul “Coy” Allen (Faith Evans, Katy Perry, Drake) lends his expert vision to “So Good.” Shooting for two overnight sessions (since both the bank robbery and nightclub scenes had to be done at night) the rapport could not have been better and the result is a stunning visual piece of eye candy. The striking appeal of the video attracted popular Style Network reality show Jerseylicious to participate and include the making of the “So Good” video in to one of their upcoming episodes.

The singer is shunning the old school ideology of shopping the album around, to instead release it through her own production team – Sunset Entertainment Group. With the industry changing so much, an artist has the resources to do so much more independently than in the past. Of her do it yourself movement, TINA says “I’m not trying to make an anti-record label statement with this album, but with this unstoppable team on my side this is an opportunity to actively make things happen, instead of the waiting game of them happening to you!”

The Musician’s Roadmap to Facebook and TwitterYour Complete Guide To Getting Liked Followed and Heard

1t’s 162 pages packed with practical information on how to effectively use the two most effective social media platforms online today.

“Ariel’s book provides easy steps for social newbies and solid advice for long time networkers, thereby making this indispensable for any musician looking for future hits.”– Jay Frank, Author, Future Hit DNA

When you order you will get TWO BONUSES:

Carla’s Music Marketing Machine eReport, in which she reveals some controversial secrets, tactics and tricks for making more money with your music, including:

The 4 C’s of the New Music Biz, and what they mean to YOU!

The differences between musicians and entrepreneurs (Hint: Not that many!)

The 3 ways to grow YOUR music biz!

Ariel’s Recession Proof Musician eReport, A Musician’s Guide To Creating Multiple Streams Of Income.In it, Ariel Hyatt interviews Randy Chertkow of Indie Band Survival Guide, discuss how musicians can earn more money in today’s music business

In the same tradition as classic no-nonsense Brooklyn emcees such as Sean Price, Big Daddy Kane and Jay-Z, comes East Flatbush native, Traum Diggs. The son of Caribbean immigrants, Diggs wrote his first rhyme at the age of ten and has dedicated his life to hip-hop ever since. “I don’t want to be in a time warp but I do want people to say ‘he was one of those dudes who reminded us of the dudes that paved the way as far as lyricism and real hip-hop,’” says Diggs.

Diggs’ straight forward, crystal clear delivery is a throwback to when hip-hop was more authentic but is still relevant to today’s landscape. When you listen to a Traum Diggs song you get humor, pain, social commentary and real raw lyricism all wrapped up in one package. “I’m an autobiographical emcee,” says Diggs. “My raps are my life.”

Though he wanted to be a rapper since he was a kid, Diggs heeded his mom’s advice and left Brooklyn to go to college at Temple University in Philadelphia. The then 17-year-old vowed to finish school in four years so he could get back to the rap and he did just that graduating with a BA in journalism.

During his time at Temple, Diggs honed his skills on the mic in legendary sessions with some of the best emcees in the city. He also formed the group H.M.P. with two old friends from Brooklyn and some new affiliates from school. H.M.P. released the EP, Dead End Kids in 2000. Shortly after the release, the group disbanded and Diggs joined with a former group member, ASAV, to form the Traum ‘N ASAV Show. The duo released two mixtapes, Opening Credits (2004) and The Throwback Series: Episode One (2006) which was hosted by NY mixtape staple, Bedtyme 357. The Throwback Series garnered critical acclaim in the US and overseas and was the launching pad for Traum Diggs’ new company, 623 Entertainment.

Capitalizing on the success of The Throwback Series, Traum Diggs released a collection of previously recorded solo material titled The Essential Traum Diggs in the summer of 2008. The Essential quickly led to the kickoff of The Mission Tour.

2009 was quite a year for Traum Diggs and 623 Entertainment. While successfully headlining Mission Tour dates from NY to DC, he also had the pleasure of sharing the stage with industry vets such as Talib Kweli, DJ Premier, Styles P, and Pharoahe Monch. Diggs also released a follow up installment of The Throwback Series (Episode 2) which features classic remakes of songs by KRS-One, Rakim, and Jay-Z and an incredible dedication to the late, great, Michael Jackson titled, “Mike Jackin’ 4 Beats.”

2010 has also been a landmark year so far for Traum Diggs, from playing live with his hip hop band, Bullyfoot Massive, to going on a 13-week grooming strike. Unfortunately for his barber, Diggs spent nearly three months forgoing a haircut or shave while he attempted to finish his debut EP, Major Journalism. The EP, which was scheduled for a fourth quarter release, features all live instrumentation (totally sample-free) and will see the light of day in early 2011. He also contributed the lead single, “On My Way 2 the Store” featuring Tex1 and Khaliba from the duo’s album, The Day The Job Market Crumbled. The single and album (which Traum Diggs is heavily featured on) are available for download via iTunes and Amazon.

Though Diggs stopped the strike before finishing the EP he had good reason. That reason came in the form of the recently released mixtape titled, For Colored Girls (& White Chicks Too). The DJ Tunes assisted tape is his first conceptual project and was inspired by Ntozake Shange’s play For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide/When the Rainbow is Enuf and Nina Simone’s classic song “Four Women.” On the 19-track opus, Diggs gives his take on women and relationships through the stories of four different individuals.

Traum’s body of work shows that he is one of the most versatile and real emcees doing it today. The beauty of it is that he is doing it for the love and not the typical rapper trappings. “I want my legacy to be that ‘he really gave us his life’ because it’s relatable and also to hopefully inspire someone that feels like there is no outlet for them in this current state of hip-hop.”

What: Meeting and Networking with like minded individuals in the music industry– Co-hosted by comedians Margaret Cho and Rob Cantrell. Come network at the cocktail reception and meet the attending delegates, set up meetings for the convention and help celebrate the start of the New Music Seminar. The NMS Opening remarks will kick off the start of the evening showing the latest trends, where the business is at and where it will be going to give you valuable information to succeed.

What: A day of getting educated by top professionals (via panels, lectures, breakout sessions, workshops, and seminars) about the current state of the music industry and its future.

Time/ Schedule:

8:30 AM – Registration Opens

9:45-10:30 – Keynote Address

11:00-12:30 – The Next Music Business Unveiled

The game has changed, traditional radio, charts, retail, music video is fading. A new world of opportunities for developing artists to do redefine success and do it themselves has emerged. Moderator: Ariel Hyatt (Ariel Publicity & Cyper PR) Panelists:Eric Garland (Big Champagne), Jay Frank (CMT), Mike Doernberg (ReverbNation), Gwen Lipsky (SoundThinking)

1:00 – Gibson Guitar Giveaway

All registered delegates at NMS NYC 2010 are automatically entered into the drawing to win a Satin White Gibson SG Raw Power Guitar (valued at $1,284)! Must be present to win.

1:30-3:00 – TED style Lectures

Four 18-minute talks, on how artists, no matter where they are at in their career, can make more money.

1:30 – Tony Van Veen (Discmakers, CD Baby)

1:50 – Bob Cramer & Phil Antoniadis (Nimbit)

2:10 – Martin Atkins (Tour: Smart, Invisible Records)

2:30 – Ralph Simon (Mobilium)

3:30-5:00 – Second Movement The future of media

In a world beyond the concept of CPM and reach and frequency, how will new artists break? The web is truly worldwide and potentially infinite. As media migrates to the web over the next 10 years, how will that change what breaks and how? Moderator: Peter Kafka (All Things) Panelists: Joe Kennedy (Pandora), David Goodman (CBS Interactive), Courtney Holt (MySpace Music)

8:00 – “ARTIST ON THE VERGE” Finals at Santo’s Party House

Come network and hear the hottest Artists who are the finalists from a national talent search who have met the criteria of rising above the noise ceiling and doing it on their own without the help of a major or major independent label. The winner will be announced on Wednesday, July 21st at NMS and receive over $25,000 worth of musical equipment, services and consultations from the new leaders of the music industry and other valuable prizes to take their career to the next level. Your NMS Badge gains you complimentary admission at the door.

What: A day of getting educated by top professionals (via panels, lectures, breakout sessions, workshops, and seminars) about the current state of the music industry and its future.

Time/ Schedule:

8:30 AM – Registration Opens

10:00- 11:30 – Third Movement: Your Live Tour: How to Rise Above the Glut, Get Beyond the 300 Ticket Barrier, Make More Money and Prepare for the Warfare That Lies Ahead:

How to get to the 300 ticket mark in multiple markets or gain the coveted opening act slot and make money as a touring musician. Learn the simple steps, do’s and don’ts and secrets from those who are making the decisions. Moderator: Martin Atkins (Tour:Smart, Invisible Records) Panelists: Corrie Christopher (Agent, VP APA), Michael Donovan (Sr. Talent Buyer, AEG Northeast)

11:30- 1:00 – Breakout Session 1

Tom Jackson (Onstagesucces.com)

Corey Denis (Not Shocking)

Linda Lorence-Critelli (SESAC)

Ralph Jaccodine (Manager)

Shannon Schlappi (Rockdex)

Rick Goetz (Musician’s Coaching)

Ariel Hyatt (Ariel Publicity/Cyber PR)

Marc Jacobson, Esq (Legal)

Dave Rosenheim (Jambase)

Chris McDonald (Indie Feed)

Jay Frank (Author, Future Hit DNA/CMT)

12:00- 1:30 – TED style Lectures

Four 18-minute talks, on how artists, no matter where they are at in their career, can make more money.